Investing in winning

People who play fantasy football often play for money – but the people who are really into it don’t necessarily play because they have a chance to win money – although money is nice… [Read more...]

Dallas Clark TE IND — 2009 Preview

The exit of mainstay Marvin Harrison should mean that even more looks are coming Clark’s way, but the development of Anthony Gonzalez on the outside will temper those expectations a bit. [Read more...]

Roddy White WR ATL — 2009 Preview

White followed up a solid performance in 2007 with a near top 5 WR finish in 2008. He formed a great chemistry with rookie QB Matt Ryan which lead to White’s 88 receptions, nearly 1400 yards and 7 TDs last season. He outperformed his ADP last year by 12-15 spots which meant most owners ended up paying for a low end WR2 and ended up with a legit WR1, but don’t expect that to happen in 2008. [Read more...]

DRAFTING IDPs: Doing the research

IDP leagues have become more and more popular over the past few years, and the league setups for carrying these positions varies as well. In most cases, a league will still have all the same offensive roster spots you are used to, but then the IDP roster spots will be added to make the league more challenging.

[Read more...]

Mock Draft Again

Following up my last mock draft with yet another…this time a 12 team league, rather than a 10 team setup.  Just as last time, my picks are marked with two asterisks. [Read more...]

When traders forget how to trade

So I am in a TON of leagues with the same group of guys in multiple really competitive leagues, most all for money.  See where I am going with this? Well give me a minute and you will.

We play in leagues with salaries and contracts as well as leagues with IDP’s and other leagues with offensive players only and traditional scoring setups, while most all of the other leagues employ more balanced scoring to keep all positions relevant at all times.

Now, my point for this is that trading has effectively died.  Kaput.  Final, done and over. Ain’t gonna happen.  No one trusts anyone enough to actually give even an inch but please believe that everyone will gladly take any giveaways they can brow beat you into sacrificing to their awesome teams in tribute.

Sign Up is going on now. Stop waiting.
Sign Up is going on now. Stop waiting.

Oh sure there are a couple of trades that get processed each year, but for the most part, all of our shared leagues have become eerily similar to the NFL; where distrust and competition means that drafting smart and keeping an eye on the WW are really your main ways of building your team each year as your dynasty plays out through the years.

Personally, I have always enjoyed the art of the negotiation and really enjoyed it when I was able to strike deals in various fantasy sports leagues that improved both teams.

Alas, the chances of that actually occurring ever again left long before NorrisB decided to take his act on the road.  I mean I can barely get Rowell to even consider taking the time to talk to me about a deal.  Novick loves to talk about stuff as he talks in circles and never plans to actually pull the trigger on anything.  Ask him, hell tell you.  Ellis is tries his best to work with me, but I am just irrational with my trade demands. If I could ever see anything his way, aka the right way, then maybe I could trade some.

Why do I bring this up now? What’s the point of all this other than procrastinating on my homework? Good that you asked.

These days, the only inquiries that I get concerning “trades” are the ones where they are merely asking if I want to give away all my best players in exchange for their scrubs who really should be cut from their roster than transferred to mine to stink up the place even worse.

Don’t get me wrong, I play against some of the best salesmen I have ever met.  They will make you want to believe that Adrian Peterson is a horrible first option especially when compared to the RB that fell all the way to them at 6.  Or that the K they drafted in the 12th round will easily outscore my RB from the 2nd RD.   At least that is what their crystal ball told them. Or the leprechaun that lives in the back seat of Novick’s car.

None of these guys work in sales mind you.  Rather, they channel all of their used car salesmen traits into their management of their fantasy football team in varying dynasty leagues with money on the line.

I mention it now because I just got talked in circles by two of those guys, for no reason at all.  No happy ending at all for my teams, I guess we will stand pat and hope to come together as a team.

Tilting at windmills gets tiring for a brother.